Marin History Watch: 'Tiburon Terror' on the baseball field

On April 11, 1916, Samuel Blake Chapman was born in Tiburon, where rail yard sandlots provided the perfect venue for childhood baseball. The "Tiburon Terror" went on to play on the varsity baseball team at Tamalpais High School and then showcased his talent in football at UC Berkeley, helping his team win the Rose Bowl in 1938. Recruited by both professional baseball and football teams, Chapman chose baseball, playing with the Philadelphia Athletics for 10 seasons as an outfielder. (In 1946, he hit three home runs in a game against Boston.) His pro career ended in 1954 after three seasons with the Oakland Oaks. Today, a plaque in Point Tiburon Plaza (pictured) honors the Bay Area Hall of Famer.

History Watch is provided by the Marin History Museum, www.marinhistory.org, and appears Tuesday in the Generations section. Images included in History Watch are available for purchase by calling 382-0770 or by email at photoservices@marinhistory.org.